Reached is the satisfying conclusion to the Matched trilogy, with the final confrontation between the rebels of The Rising and the government of The Society is underway. A man-made plague is central to the story, as The Rising wants to be the group who will get credit for saving the people. Unfortunately, the plague mutates and the race is on to find a cure before The Rising loses all of its support and momentum (not to mention its population). Book clubs and individual readers alike might enjoy a discussion about the ethics of an intentionally-started plague, intended to be used to control large groups of people. In this case, both The Society and The Rising are guilty of using the plague for their own benefit. Cassia, Xander, and Ky all provide invaluable assistance to finding the cure in ways that reflect each of their individual strengths. Thoughtful consideration can be given to the question of how much an individual can or should lose himself for the good of the greater group. Ultimately, the message that readers will take away is that creative expression, love (both romantic and familial), and most importantly, personal choice are worth the good fight. In the end, the true victory is given to the individuals as they are poised to vote for the first time ever to determine whether they will be led by The Society, The Rising, or some yet-to-be-determined third option.
